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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers

Muskegon, MI (PRWEB) — Reid Supply Company, a Michigan-based, premier global distributor of industrial supplies, added the Dickies family clothing line as well as more safety products to its online offerings at ReidSupply.com .
“We have no doubt that many of our customers will appreciate the extra value that the Dickies workwear line offers the entire family.

This is what many organizations espouse every day. However, these words often don’t match the actions of an organization toward its employees. If you consider a person as a consumable item, then perhaps this perspective is valid.

BEIJING (AP) — China told the United States on Wednesday to make stronger commitments on climate change and provide environmental expertise and financing to developing nations.
At the same time, China said its own efforts to reduce energy intensity have been hampered by its economic recovery in the latter part of last year, which brought growth in heavy energy-consuming industries.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana's plan to lay off some meat inspectors to save money and reduce the time inspectors spend with small, independent processors has the industry and farmers fearing it could hurt what has been a growing industry.
It's not clear how many of the state's 52 inspectors will be let go, but meatpackers say any layoffs will prevent them from growing to meet demand for locally raised meat.

PARIS (AP) — French President Nicolas Sarkozy will raise concerns that the U.S. Air Force's $35 billion tanker contract is anticompetitive when he visits President Barack Obama later this month, a spokesman said Wednesday.
EADS, the parent company of Airbus, had partnered with Northrop Grumman to vie for the 179-tanker order, but their consortium pulled out on Monday.

ERLANGER, Ky. (AP) — A high-ranking Toyota executive says the auto company's North American sales spiked around 50 percent the first eight days of March as incentives helped lure customers after a series of embarrassing safety recalls.
Don Esmond, senior vice president of automotive operations for Toyota Motor Sales, said in an interview Tuesday that the early numbers surpassed the company's expectations.

Elliot Spagat, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
EL CAJON, Calif. — A Toyota Prius that sped out of control on a California freeway was towed to a dealership Tuesday while federal and company inspectors converged on the car to determine whether a stuck gas pedal was to blame.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sent two investigators to examine the car after Monday's incident, said Olivia Alair, a spokeswoman for the Department of Transportation, which oversees NHTSA.

SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) — General Motors has received a fleet order for 849 Hummers, so the Shreveport plantwon't shut down for two weeks in May, after all.
GM spokesman Otie McKinley says the plant has a month to build the H3s and H3Ts. He says Hummer production will resume April 12, and the order must be completed by May 13.

Chevron Corp. said Tuesday it will cut 2,000 jobs this year and sell some overseas operations as it revamps its struggling refinery, marketing and transportation operations.
The job cuts represent almost 12 percent of its 17,000 workers in the so-called downstream part of its business and just over 3 percent of its overall work force.

Muskegon, Michigan — Reid Supply Company, a Michigan-based, premier global distributor of industrial supplies for more than 60 years has responded to government’s need for a multipurpose convenience point for builders of rail systems, roads and bridges. The company recently added more than 8,000 items to its online web site and offers free CAD drawings of most of their industrial parts.

Introduction
Sound can be a very subjective thing. What may sound “unusual” to one individual may very well sound “normal” to another. As a method of diagnosing a potential problem with a gearbox or gearmotor, the sound coming from it should not solely be relied upon to determine whether-or-not a problem exists.

Van Air Systems (Lake City, PA) now offers the Prep40, a complete package in portable compressed air drying. All Prep40 models are designed for applications needing mobility and dew points down to -40 or -100°F. Typical applications include pipeline drying or critical sandblast and painting operations.

The Bondhus Corporation (Monticello, MN) introduces a full line of high quality insulated tools through its German marketing partner, FELO. The screwdrivers, bit drivers, and pliers are tested and certified to comply with all critical safety standards, including insulation safety testing at 10,000 volts.

The Baghouse controller from FilterSense (Beverly, MA) features DeviceNet communications for integration with Allen-Bradley PLCs. The B-PAC series of Baghouse analyzers and controllers feature advanced intelligence, such as the ability to instantly detect and locate failed solenoids and filter leaks.

TURCK (Minneapolis, MN) introduces the new LI-Q25 series linear position sensors, which replace magnetostrictive and potentiometer devices to deliver precise measurements in metal processors, rolling mills, or injection molding machines. The LI-Q25 sensors do not require a magnetic positioning device, so they are unaffected by metal debris.

DETROIT (AP) — Detroit, the very symbol of American industrial might for most of the 20th century, is drawing up a radical renewal plan that calls for turning large swaths of this now-blighted, rusted-out city back into the fields and farmland that existed before the automobile.
Operating on a scale never before attempted in this country, the city would demolish houses in some of the most desolate sections of Detroit and move residents into stronger neighborhoods.

CINCINNATI (AP) — Procter & Gamble Co. has recalled two versions of Pringles chips because of concerns about potential Salmonella exposure.
The Cincinnati-based consumer products maker says the Cheeseburger and "Taco Night" versions of the snack are being recalled. The company is offering replacement coupons or refunds.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nature's Variety has expanded its recall of chicken-flavored pet food because of concerns over salmonella.
The Lincoln, Neb.-based company said Monday that the raw, frozen food is being recalled because it could be contaminated with salmonella.
The recall includes three-pound packages of chicken medallions, six-pound packages of chicken patties and two-pound packages of chicken chubs.

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (AP) — Biotechnology company Exelixis Inc. plans to eliminate about 270 jobs, or around 40 percent of its staff, as it tries to save money and continue development of cancer drugs with Sanofi-Aventis SA and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.
After the market closed on Monday, Exelixis said it will cut jobs and restructure its business to focus on its most advanced drugs.

BRUSSELS (AP) — The EU on Tuesday warned the United States against protectionism after a European-led consortium pulled out of the bidding for an Air Force contract, saying the terms had been altered to favor a U.S. company.
EADS, the parent company of Airbus, had partnered with Northrop Grumman to vie for the tanker project, but their consortium pulled out on Monday.